Actuator design



June 7, 1960 R. R. NAUHEIMER 2,

ACTUATOR DESIGN Filed Dec. 24, 1956 N VEN TOR.

I ROBERT R. NAUl-EINER ATTORAE Y 2,939,485 ACTUATOR DESIGN Robert R. Nauheim'er, *Ghicago, Ill., *assigrror to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, 'Minneapolis, 7

.My invention relates to .anirnproved .actuatordesign and more particularly to improvements in antactuator which .facilitates simple attachment .and detachment .of

the actuator to a device normally connectedlto the actuator to be operated thereby without requiring dis- .assembly of the actuator for removal (Sf-the. same.

In the past, actuatorsfor operating devices .werenorv mally designed as .separateand distinct units from the .device and the interconnecting vlinkages betweenthe vac vtuator and thedevice made forlarge cumbersome combinations but permitted thedisassembly of the actuator lfromthe device without requiring disassemblyofeither ofthe units. In theatternpttoreduce the overalLsize of-thecombination of an actuatorand a device. normally .used together, the connection between the twolfis nor-' anally .made within! one ,or the other of the units. and

while 2 this .arrangement facilitated the .overall reduction .in :sizeof the combination .of .the ;units, it. required that zto remove. the actuator fonrepair for maintenance that one or the other of the fdeviceshad ,to be disassembled tofacilitate detachment of the units. The present invention is directed to an arrangementof an improved actuator which is normally mounted with adeviceto .be operated thereby such that the overall size :of the andlength of the combination of elements is substantially .reducedand .in which the connection between the two are made .withinone of thesedevices to reduce the diz-mensional requirements. This improved actuator design permits the disassembly of the device from the .actuator without requiring that ,the .actuator be disas- :sembled or the device be disassembled.

.It isthereforelanobject of th is invention to provide an improved actuatordesign which may .bereadily at- ;tachedor detached from the deviceto be operated thereby. 1 .A further objectof this invention is to provide an improved pneumatic actuator which may be readily .at- Y1 tac hed or detached to the'device which it isto operate.

A .further object .of the invention is to provide an .improved connection apparatus for an.actuator.

vThese'and otherobjects ofthis'invention will be apparent from a readingof the :attacheddescription together .with the. drawing, wherein:

. Figure. 1 TShOWS a sectional view of'my improved actuator together-with astem of a device to be operated ..mechanism used in Figurev 1,

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of my improved actuator in partial section witlrdetails toa connection -mechanism .for the actuator, and

Figure3 shows a perspective view oftheconnnection mechanism used, in Figure 2.

In'thedrawings, Figure 1 shows our-improved actuator..design .in theform .of a pneumatic actuator indi- ..cated generally at.1- 0 and,having attached'thereto the Stem ll of a device which the actuator is to operate with Fatented June 7 196.0

detailstofathesdevice being i-omittedl:

:device;could beLa valve in which the stem attacheglgto .the'actuator ou1d ;carry the: valve; operating plng lnot :shown) The improved pneumatic actuator 10 includes .aibase l-2 having arecessed portion 13 atonqextremity overwhich is positioned a diaphragm .14, the diaphragm .being held in position-over the recessbyacover member v15 which is generallycupshapedim form and is 'attached to the base throughscrew means indicated at 16.. .;As shown in ,the drawing, a" cover member 15 has -'an aper- .tureZDthereinWhich ,is centrally located-over .the :diaphragm for .purposes which will belater noted.

Diaphragm 14 has .a central'opening .witha beaded .flange22 surrounding or definingthe .same, the flange 22 being positioned over acylindrically tshaped support member 23. Positioned on top of the diaphragm ista forming cup -mernber 24 which overlies the diaphragm to.-shape. thesameand provide forguiding the diaphragm --.as therolling actiontakes place therein due 'to actuator movement. The diaphragm and the :supporting cup 24 are heldinplaceby a clamping nut: 25 which is threaded ;onto the-upper :portion of the support 23 forming aaseal ,forthe diaphragm 'at this point. Base 12 also includes va cup-.shapedflange or inner-flange member or section ,30 whichdefines an annular recess 31 on the ,under;=surphragm 14 to be clamped to the supporting member 23 by. means o f .-..the supporting platerz. and screw. or'n u .Thediaphragrns '14 rand 33 .define a chambepinathe re cessed area, 13 of the baseto provide. a variable chamber or working chamber for the actuator. .Tappedthrongh gthebase 12:is an"aperture40 providing-aconduit fonan 1 air .supplyto this chamber to transmit the working pressure to the chamber to act-on the diaphragm 14.- -.,It will-.be noted-that the inner diaphragm 33 is similarly cshaped withthat ofthe 'outer orlarger diaphragm-.44 -andis positioned between the surfaceofsthefiange, and the support 2310 provide the rolling action as thC" -\HQI-kting-pressure withinthe chamber 13-expands and-moves the diaphragms upward while the inner diaphragm {33 tactstas "3:5631 to complete the cha mber.1 -'Positioned;.i;n the recessedportion 31 of the inner .flange 30,0f'7fl38 base is a return spring: member '41 whichis a coil spring and restsatone extremity against the flange in the ecess .31 and is carried at its-other extremity by an; annular .spring supporting member 42 which :is mounted on the .support member v23. Thus the return spring imparts :a .bias through the support members -42 and 23 to -.,the diaphragm urging the same downward as seen in :the drawing. i

' Support member .23 also has "a recess indicated generally at '45 at the upper extremity thereof which eX- tends through: the support member and has sloped tor tapered sides surfaces 46 at one extremity. Positioned in this recess portion and extending between flange like rextensions 47 of. the support member 23 which support the cup-shaped spring member 42 isthe .valve'-ste,m.-1-1 or sternof the device to be operated. This stem carries a .knob 51 which islocated-Withinthe recess of 45 adjacent to sloping sides 46 thereof. Also positionedin the ;recess 45 is a connnection member 53 whichisgshown in section in Figure 1, and in'detailinFigure 1A. Member.53 is generally cylindrical in form havingztaiplurality of: flange extensions 57 at one extremitythereof. .JIhe extremities 57 of the connection member are positioned adjacent to knob 51 on the stern. These extensions are sides 46 of the recess.

3 flexible and upon movement of the connection member 53 downward within the recess 45 they will be-forced to bend toward and around; knob 51, as shown in Figure 1, gripping or holding the same, due to the sloping The opposite extremity of the connection member-has a flange-likeextension' 55 which encircles a screw means 61 and isfheld in position by a snap'washerg62, the screw means 61having' a threaded periphery which is adapted to be threaded in tothelrecess -moving the connection member 53-do,wn Thus the stem 11 is secured to the support member 23 throug h the knob 51 and the deformed extensions of the connection member 53 providing an operative connection be- 'tween the diaphragm and the device to be operated.

Disassembly of the device is easily facilitated. simply by partially withdrawing the screw means 61 retracting the flange-like extensions 57 from around the head of the knob or hub 51 releasing the stem so that it may be separated from the actuator. With this arrangement, there is no need for disassembling the diaphragm or the parts of the actuator to separate the device from the actuator. Flange-like extensions of the lower portion of 'the base 12, indicated at 65, mount a cover plate 66 having a centrally located aperture 67 therein. The bottom of plate or lower cover is secured to the extensions 65 of base 12 by screws 68 and this portion of the actuator is designed to mount adjacent to or be positioned on the device which is to be operated, such as the body of the valve, without further mechanical connection. The flange-like extensions 65 of the base expose the spring 41 and the support plate 42 such that its position relative to the base may 'be' readily apparent,

giving an indication of when the valve is open or closed. Suitable indicia 70 may be included on the extension '65 of baselZ to indicate the degree of opening or closing of the 'valve member or the degree of operation of the I actuator. s

With the introduction: of air to the chamber 13 through by inserting the knob 51 of the stem 11 into the recess 45 and moving the screw 61 into the recess at the upper extremity of the supporting member 23 to deform the connection member 53 causing the' flange-like extension 57 at the extremity thereof to bend around the knob securing the stem to the support member 23 and hence the diaphragm 14 while the extension 55 is' held to the screw 61. Disconnection may be made merely by removal of the screw releasing the clamping force on member 53 which results in a withdrawal of the flange-like extensions 57 away' from the knob. The modification or embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3 is substantially the same as that of Figure 1 except for the connection 'member and hence the remaining details of the actuator "are omitted in Figures 2 and 3 since this will be the A portion of a support membersame as in Figure 1. 74 (corresponding to support member 23 in Figure 1) is shown in Figure 2 which has instead of the general recess 45 a centrally located tapped aperture 75 into which a screw means 76 is adapted to be threaded. Ex-

tending from sides of tapped aperture and forming part,

of said aperture are plurality of slots 79 shown here as two slots, the sides of which are slightly sloped toward the upper extremity of the support member 74 and which are sharply curved at 77 at which point a larger recessed area 81 in support member 74 is located and into which knob 51 of the device extends. A connection member shown in perspective in Figure 3 is attached to screw means 76 by means of back washer 83 and includes a pairof split flange-like extensions 85 having portions of different lengths which are flexible. The extensions 85 each have three parts, with the longer part located between short side parts and all with transversely extending fingers at their extremities. Each flange-like extension fits into a, slot and as the screw means is threaded in aperture 75 the flange-like extensions are moved down into the slots suchthat the side partsof the extensions follow'the sloping sides of the slots and the longer center part as it engages the curved surface 77 of the slots is deflected inwardly toward knob 51. The transversely extending fingers are positioned below the lower surface of the knob 51 to secure the same within the support member 74. Detachment of the device is accomplished in the same manner as in the preferred embodiment, that is, by a partial withdrawal of the screw means 76. Thus a simple method of connecting the detachment or attachment of the actuator to the device to be operated thereby is facilitated with this improved actuator design.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, an actuator having a movable member and a stationary means supporting said movable member for movement relative thereto, a device to be operated by said actuator including a movable operating member, means included in one of said members having an aperture and screw means at one extremity thereof,

means including a knob on the other of said members, 1

said members being normally positioned such that said knob is located within said aperture of said other member, and connection means including flexible flange-like extensions at one extremity thereof extending into said aperture, said screw means operating to move said, connection means in said aperture causing said extensions to deflect toward and around said knob connecting said members in operative relationship.

2. In combination, an actuator having a movable member and a stationary means supporting said movable member for movement relative thereto, a device to be operated by said actuator including a movable operating member, the movable member of said actuator having an aperture and screw means in one extremity thereof, means including a knob on the operating member of said device, said members being norm-ally positioned such that said knob is located within the aperture of said actuator member, and connection means including flexibleflan'ge extensions at the extremity thereof positioned in said aperture, said screw means operating to position said connection means in said aperture causing said extensions to deflect toward and around said knob connecting said members in operative relationship.

3. In combination, an actuator having a movable member and a stationary means supporting said movable member for movement relative thereto, a device to be operated by said actuator including a movable] operating member, the movable member of said actuator having an aperture therethrough and movable means in one extremity thereof, means including a knob on the operating member of said device, said members being normally positioned such that said knob is located within the aperture of said actuator member, and connection means having flange like extensions at the extremities thereof extending said aperture, said movable means being operative to position said connection means causing said extensions to deflect toward and around said knob connecting said members in operative relationship.

4. In combination, an actuator having a movable member and a stationary means supporting said movable member for movement relative thereto, a device to be operated by said actuator including a movable operating member, the movable member of said actuator having an aperture therethrough and screw means in one extremity thereof, means including a knob on the operating member of said device, said members being normally positioned such that said knob is located within the aperture of said actuator member, and a cylindrically shaped member having flange-like extensions at the extremities thereof positioned in said aperture, said screw means operating to move said extensions of said cylindrical shaped member toward and around said knob connecting said members in operative relationship.

5. In combination, a diaphragm type actuator having a diaphragm type chamber and support means enclosing the same, a device to be operated by said diaphragm type actuator and including a movable member, means included in the diaphragm of said actuator having an aperture therethrough and screw means at one extremity thereof, hub means positioned on the moveable member of said device and normally positioned in the aperture of said diaphragm, and connection means including flexible extension means extending into said aperture adjacent said hub, the screw means in said diaphragm operating to move said extension means toward said hub means with the extremity of said extension means being positioned around said hub means connecting said diaphragm and said operating member in operative relationship.

6. In combination, an actuator having a movable member and a stationary means supporting said movable member for movement relative thereto, a device to be operated by said actuator including a movable operating member, a recess included in one of said members, hub means included on the other of said members and normally positioned in said recess, connection means having flange-like extensions positioned in said recess adjacent said hub means, and movable means positioned in said recess and mounting said connection means being operative to move said flange-like extensions of said connection means around said hub means to clamp said hub means to said member having said recess.

7. In combination, a diaphragm type actuator having a movable diaphragm and a casing means surrounding References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,468,849 Trainor May 3, 1949 2,496,215 Jones Jan. 31, 1950 2,524,446 Johnson Oct. 3, 1950 2,590,175 Hajdu Mar. 25, 1952 2,595,211 Le Clair Apr. 29, 1952 2,608,211 Tlorburn et a1. Aug. 26, 1952 

